Dear Misty,
You don’t know me, and perhaps you never will, but I want to say Thank You. Thank You for giving my daughter and the daughters of this world something to look forward too. Thank You for giving them an example of what “Black” can do. You see just last week my daughter and I happened to be going through your images online, and she was so intrigued. She was so excited to see someone that “looks like her” stand with such confidence and grace. I began to tell her about your challenges, your fears, and how you defied all odds brought against you. I shared with her how you shook up the comfort zones of others, just by stepping outside of your own. I made sure that she understood that THIS is what hard work and never giving up looks like. Even at only 4 years old, she understood.
She wanted to know more about you. Where did you live? Who was your mommy? How did you learn to dance? She eagerly swiped through every photo, with a smile that grew bigger and shined brighter than the northern star. I swear if she could have, she would have hugged you through the phone.
“Mommy she looks like me”.
“Yes”, I replied, “She looks like all of us”.
I want you to know that the melanin in your skin tells our children that dreams do come true. Your tenacity and drive shows our girls that black lives do matter. Your poise and grace shows our girls that their black is beautiful. And your humbleness teaches them gratitude and gratefulness. Did you ever think that one day your dancing would be more than just a dance, but a symbol of how far we’ve come?
After looking at your pictures online, I noticed that my daughters daily twirls became more meaningful as if she now twirled around the house with a purpose. I noticed her bold desire to wear her leotard more often as to remind herself of where her dreams could take her. I noticed her focusing more on her poses and balancing her body, gracefully and poised, all because she saw her dreams through your eyes. So Thank You Misty. Thank You for your contribution to a young black girls dream. Thank you for showing our girls the power of perseverance. Because of women like you, I am able to show my daughter a world where she can CREATE the life that she has always dreamed of. And for that, I am forever grateful.
Keep inspiring, keep defying all odds and congratulations on all of your success!
Signed,
A Grateful Mommy
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